News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-04-14
EVERY FACULTY SUSPENDED.
Singular Case of Loss of Identity
and Mysterious Restoration.

NoRRIsTowN., Pa.-A most remarka-
bic case Of loss of identity, recalling the
story of Griffith Gaunt, is agitating So
ciety circles here. Surgeon General
l.. W. Read was called in, and says the
case is the most peculiar in his wide
range of experience.
Blk weeks ago a strange gentleman of
good address came here and rented a
store on East Main street. He divided
the room into two apartments by means
of curtains. The rear he furnished and
occupied as a living room the front he
stocked with notions and toys and did
modest but successful business. The
family from whom he rented the store
came in daily contact with their tenant,
but neither they nor any of his patrons
ever noticed anything peculiar in his
manner or habits. He visited Phila-
4lelphia soyeral times, replenished his
sock and conducted his business care
fully.
No mental obliquity was noticed until
yesterday morning, when he knocked at
the door leading from the store to the
dwelling part of the building. Mrs.
Earl, who answered the knock, was sur
prised to hear him ask "Where am II"
She tried to convince him of his where
abouts, but failing her husband came to
her assistance. To him the tenant made
the following statement 81 awOke
about four o'clock this morning after
dreaming that [ was buying and selling
merchandise. I discovered that I was
in a store, and was seized with the fear
that l would be arrested as a burglar.
Now l want to know where l am" He
could not be made to believe that he
was in Norristown, or that he visited
Philadelphia recently. He only answer
ed: 81 was in Philadelphia twenty
eight years ago, but not since that
time"
DR.. Read was then summoned, and to
him the stranger made the following
| statement "DOctor, [ have Just awak-
ened from a confused dream. l am in
formed that [ am in NOrristown, Penn
sylvania, and that this is the 14th of
March. If this is true the past two
months have been an entire blank to
me. Yesterday [ left my home in
Coventry, Rhode Island. But that was
the morning of January IS. ] drove to
Green's Station on the New England
Railroad, left my horse and carriage in
/ cldTSe OF u Trend, went to providence,
| drew $3.50 from the bank, called at sew
eral places, including the store of my
nephew, Andrew Harris, No. 121 Broad
street, opposite the NarTaganset Hotel
and left there to go to my sisters resi-
/ dence on Westminster Street. [ have
a distinct recollection of having passed
the Adams Express Office, corner of
Do1Tance and Broad streets, but have no
recollection of single event since that
| time. [ am a minister of the Gospel,
my name is Ansel Bourne and 1 am
sixty-one years of age"
Dr. Read left him in the care of Mr..
Earl's family; with instructions to par
take copiously of food. He then tele-
graphed Andrew Harris "Do you
know Ansel Bourne2 Please answer, -
and received the following reply: "He
is my uncle. Wire me where he is and
if well. Write particulars.
Mr.. Bourne is rapidly regaining his
faculties, and is anxiously awaiting the
arrival of relatives when he will dispose
of his stock of notions and -oys and re-
turn home He is n man of good address,
fine appearance and an interesting
talker.
DR.. Read is completely mystifed thus
far and will venture no opinion on the
case